Dusky Shark

Do dusky sharks attack people?

The dusky shark is considered to be potentially dangerous to humans because of its large size, though little is known of how it behaves towards people underwater. As of 2009, the International Shark Attack File lists it as responsible for six attacks on people and boats, three of them unprovoked and one fatal.

e s tendency to be accidentally caught as bycatch. Dusky Sharks are targeted in the shark-fin trade because of their large fins and good consistency to make high-quality shark-fin soup. Despite being illegal to keep in U.S. waters, Dusky Sharks are still incidental bycatch in fisheries for coastal sharks and other species. This makes the population difficult to manage—not only does the shark fishing industry need to be monitored, but all fishing industries where Dusky Sharks could potentially be caught.

In addition to their appeal in the fishing industry, this species of shark has a remarkably long reproduction period. Gestation is usually around 16 months followed by a year-long gap before mating again. This slow reproductive rate makes the effect of over-fishing much more pronounced, with the Atlantic population projected to take several decades to recover. Because Dusky Shark juveniles are the most vulnerable segment of the population to bycatch mortality, even incidental captures are enough to slow population recovery (Romine et al. 2009).

Smithsonian scientists are tracking this species to gain a better understanding of where individuals and populations travel in an attempt to protect habitat areas that may be necessary for their survival. Having this knowledge will allow for accurate advisement on policy and fishing regulations, which could potentially help reduce the levels of bycatch and aid in increasing population levels. Being one of the largest coastal sharks on the East coast of the US means that they are an important apex predator in their ecological system, so information on these sharks could potentially allow us to understand their interactions with prey and competing species.

How long do dusky sharks live?

Dusky sharks are extremely long-lived and may survive up to half a century, but they are slow to grow and to reproduce. The sharks don’t reach sexual maturity until about 20 years of age. How long do dusky sharks live?